Salesian High School Library

Research Methods
#1: The Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center - #2: The SIRS Knowledge Source

Method #1: Using the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center.
The Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center is an excellent resource for religion projects.
Click on the Opposing Viewpoints banner on the SHS Library's Databases page.
 

You can type search terms into the Basic Search box shown above at the left.
Often what you're looking for is listed in the Popular Topics list at the right hand side of the screen.
For example, click on Abortion, the first item on the list.
 

This is the Results Screen.  It consists of several parts.
At the far left is a list of Related Subjects.  You may find a topic closer to your project on this list.
Click on any link on the Related Subjects list for a new Results Screen.
 
 This first page of the Results Screen presents Viewpoint Essays.
Click on the Reference tab for reference book articles.  The Magazines tab will give you magazine articles on abortion.
The Academic Journals tab presents important journal articles and the News tab presents newspaper articles.
Primary source articles are at the Primary Sources tab and statistical information can be found at the Statistics tab.
Click on any article title for the full text of the article.
 
The Multimedia tab contains images, podcasts, broadcast transcripts, and audio files.
The Websites tab will take you to links to approved web sites.
Click here to return to the top of this page.


Method #2: Using The SIRS Knowledge Source.
The SIRS Knowledge Source is another excellent resource for religion projects.
Click on the SIRS Knowledge Source banner on the SHS Library's Databases page.

You can type search terms into the Search box (shown circled in red above).
For broad one-word topics, like abortion, use the Subject Headings search option.
For more specific multi-word topics, like immigration from hispanic countries, use the Keyword/Natural Language search option.
 
Often what you're looking for is listed in the Top 10 Pro vs. Con box at the right hand side of the screen.
For example, click on the Abortion icon.
 

This is the Results Screen.  At the top, above the list of articles, is a Research Guide.
The first tab gives you an Overview of the topic and provides you with background information.
The second tab outlines the Pro and Con positions people take on this issue.
 

The third tab, My Analysis, is a step-by-step guide for you to complete your religion project.
The last links at the bottom of this section lead to guides to writing papers, PowerPoint presentations, and debates.
 

Below the Research Guide you will see all of the articles found by your search.
To look at only one kind of articles, reference book articles, for example, click the Reference link (shown circled in red above).
 
Each article in the list has a Summary so that you can quickly decide which articles are right for your project.
Click on any article title for the full text.
 
The Descriptors are other keywords that can help with your project.
Click on any link in the Descriptors list for a new search.
Click here to return to the top of this page.